Compass Group is to phase out its Scolarest education brand, which gained public notoriety in 2005 after being criticised with other contractors by school dinners campaigner Jamie Oliver .

As exclusively revealed on Kitchen Rat yesterday, Scolarest, which is the largest private contractor in the school meals market, will be replaced over the next 12 months or so by Chartwells.

Chartwells is currently operated by Compass, in the USA and in the UK, covering the independent schools, colleges and universities market.

Tony Byrne, business director of Chartwells, said: "The changes that have taken place have resulted in a food service offer that is unrecognisable from five years ago.

"Therefore it's the right time to bring all of our education business under one brand. It will ensure all of our existing and potential clients can easily identify who we are and what we stand for."

Compass accounts for one in 15 school meals served in UK and Ireland primary and secondary schools.

Axing loss-making school meals contracts boosts Initial>>

Graysons appoints ex-Compass education man to head schools business>>

Sodexo's Jane Bristow on a mixed future for school catering>>

Compass wins ￡4.5m school dinner contract>>

For more on the subject see our school dinners round-up>>

By Chris Druce

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